Jaela: getting stuff done (Jaela)

[Corwin]

"Thanks. I'm ready to accept your surrender," Jaela says, looking around for the speaker as she steps out of the way.

[Anastasia]

The figure that approaches ripples, a visible and obvious illusion. A lean, harsh efreet who wears a vest, turban and pants, arms crossed. "I am Hasan of the Obsidian Triumph. You may well control Fourfires right this moment," he remarks, "Even now, the Sultan knows of this offense and mobilizes forces to correct this insult. However, we are nothing if not honorable. We are willing to pay you a suitable ransom to leave this place and never return."

A pause for him to look over each of you, "30,000 gold each as well as one of our flying ships for your Crusade."

[Corwin]

"Hasan of the Obsidian Triumph," Jaela says, inclining her head at him. "I am not an unreasonable person. I do have de facto control of Fourfires, and nothing you have can stop me. I strongly doubt the Sultain will move to defend the Emir's venture rather than harshly mock him for his failures to keep it safe." She snorts in derision, before continuing. "The Emir himself may well, potentially, actually have something that may stop me, but it would be ridiculously costly. Thirty thousand? I'd be surprised if he got off with the easy price of thirty million, which makes me doubtful of the Sultan's success or his willingness to attempt a serious intervention. Therefore, to avoid pointless bloodshed, I present to you my counter-offer."

Jaela's eyes rest calmly upon each of the efreet present before returning to meet Hasan's. "Formally surrender to me with your forces, cooperate fully in the dismantling of Fourfires, and against my better judgement I will allow you and your subordinates to escape justice for the abhorrent crimes you've committed. Should you refuse, you will be slain to the last."

[Anastasia]

"Should you go through with this, the efreet will declare war on Aurora. Your previous attack on the Emir of Flametongued was tolerated as an isolated incident. This incident cannot be ignored, and should you proceed, the Sultan will declare war on Aurora. His first order will be the deployment of an expeditionary force to Lifasa to aid Baator in its conquest." He begins to tick off fingers, "The second order will to call on secret treaties with the dao, who will declare war in solidarity with the Sultan. They will likewise support Baator with troops as well as monetary contributions. The third order will be opening the Sultan's grand treasury to finance legions of mercenaries dedicated to Aurora's destruction."

With a slight smirk, "Jaela of Aurora, does Aurora have enough to stand against all of that and still have a chance against Baator?"

[Corwin]

"Yes."

Honestly, Jaela thinks he's bluffing quite a bit, but what gives her the absolute surety of her answer is the knowledge that it doesn't matter. Slavers are the natural enemies of Aurora's cause of freedom, and if some weak efreet can make a difference compared to the literally endless tides of Hell's soldiers, she can't spot it.

"Even if the likes of you were cause for concern for me, the efreet and dao choosing sides will cause your enemies to ally with us." Jaela smirks. "Tell me, Hasan, how're things going with the Gith?"

She looks over the gathered efreet once more, projecting confidence. "Since this fool is set to die for his master, I'm giving the rest of you a chance. Anyone that betrays that shitty Emir that's even now hiding off where it's safe and joins my team will get to live, to go free and to enrich himself. The rest will die a short time after Mister Triumph."

[Anastasia]

Make a diplo check.

[Corwin]

I'd like to take ten and use up my saved Divine Insight to get 81.

[Anastasia]

As the DC was 80, that was a wise call.

The efreeti stir at your words, exchanging glances. Not even Hasan's presence deters them.

Hasan grimaces and sets his jaw, "A counter offer. Take the slaves and three ships to transport them, then leave this place."

[Corwin]

Jaela looks pensive, before shrugging. "I'll entertain the idea, but only because I can't be fucked going through thirty floors and breaking everything. It'll take forever!" She shakes her head. "Your ships outside the barrier are already mine or destroyed. Surrender the rest and you have a deal. They're crewed by slaves, and I'm not leaving any here. That means not leaving any you might have in some dungeon or as souvenirs, like that brave astral deva that tried to crash the place some time back."

[Anastasia]

"The deva's not here,' Hasan says, "I haven't seen him since his he was captured. The Emir of Livestock took him. Otherwise, your deal is accepted." Hasan says, between grit teeth.

Chance to accept, press or change your mind, Jaela.

[Corwin]

Jaela nods. "Pass on a word to the Emir for me, will you? Tell him that I'd be most pleased if the deva and his party were to find their way home after their long journey."

Then, she claps her hands. "Now, let's do this."

[Corwin]

If this goes into ooc resolution, I'd like to ask my good friend Mountainous Fire to track down the ships I sent flying all over (we have their speeds and courses) plus the couple we were on when he met us, so we won't accidentally leave a crippled ship with slaves behind. Since his summons is for an hour there should be plenty of time.

[Anastasia]

From here it's simply going outside. Each sphered off area is opened as ships land - half a dozen. The four of you stand by and watch as the are loaded to the brim with slaves, the illusion of Hasan gone in favor of the real thing, who walks up as the illusion crumbles. You're outside now, watching the sullen efreet work.

"You know," His voice is calm, conversational, "You'll made enemies here that will never forget this day. Your arms are mighty, but there will come a day where they are not mighty enough."

[Corwin]

"You might have noticed I've made an enemy of Hell before I was twenty," Jaela notes lightly. "Who made the dragon construct? As someone who's had first hand experience of some of the multiverse's best golems, I was impressed."

[Anastasia]

"Alraz, a student of Kassim of the Honored Flame," Hasan says, watching the slaves be carried onto to the ships by the efreet.

"Even the mightiest tower will fall one day, as I have found this day. Remember that." Hasan says, as the slaves are loaded to the last. "Take the ships and leave."